View Full Version : won't blo*dy start
quiksilv
11-04-05, 10:53 AM
Had a problem with my bike a few weeks back where the bike would turn over but wouldn't start - so i got a garage to pick it up and fix it - which they did but didn't notice any problem and the bike started. But the problem has started again. The battery is okay - only take 10 mins to charge after running it low trying to start the the bloody thing bike.
Any ideas suggestions as i don't won’t to give the garage another £180.
Many thanks
PS 650s 2002
fizzwheel
11-04-05, 11:30 AM
are you sure your battery is OK ? I thought my bike was todged as it wouldnt start
Lots of clicking and whirring but it would turn over to start, before I rang the dealer I took the battery out and left it on charge for a coulpe of hours, hey presto all sorted
If its not that I dont really know what to suggest, what are the symptoms can you give anymore details ?
quiksilv
11-04-05, 12:22 PM
thanks for replying fizzwheel. no other symptoms really - charged the battery for well over 4 hours and put it back in the bike and it really tried to start but no joy? Tried until the battery went flat then put it back on charge and it was charged again in 30 mins,
I did think that maybe it started at the garage because they may have used a booster to start it? Not really sure.... any hint, tips etc would be great.
Sounds just like the problem that I had a few weeks ago.....
Engine wants to go but wont spring to life????????
If you look in Tuning Tweaking etc... (help my bike won't start) & (Bike is back - posted today)
My probs were Blocked Carbs and Contaminated fuel!!!!!
My problem was an overnight one !!!! Bike was going the previous evening, but not the following morning!!!!!
Splosh
xxxxx
fizzwheel
11-04-05, 01:25 PM
thanks for replying fizzwheel. no other symptoms really - charged the battery for well over 4 hours and put it back in the bike and it really tried to start but no joy? Tried until the battery went flat then put it back on charge and it was charged again in 30 mins,
I did think that maybe it started at the garage because they may have used a booster to start it? Not really sure.... any hint, tips etc would be great.
Sounds like your battery is knackered and wont hold its charge.. mind you I'm no mechanic...
quiksilv
11-04-05, 01:43 PM
thats what i thought, might just bite the dust and get a new one... will keep you posted.
Odd thing is it worked fine while i was using it a few days a week - went on holiday and it was kna**ered... can you get a booster of something liek that to get a bike started?
fizzwheel
11-04-05, 02:10 PM
New Batery is expensive, I would suggest that you get yourself an "optimate" and plug your battery into that, if the battery has got totally flat / sulphated and generally knackered then you might find that the optimate will sort it out, and its a charger as well.
It also has a trickle charge function and you can wire it so you can connect it to the bike and will keep the battery in good condition whilst you arent using it
I think they only cost about £30 ish.. which is cheaper than a battery, mind you if the battery is knackered you'll need a battery anyway...
just a thought
wolverine04uk
11-04-05, 02:26 PM
Sorry to butt in but had to post. What kinda batteries you gettin? I had to get a new battery and it only cost me £25 from the local bike shop. I know there are batteries for nearly £80 but you don't have to get them. And the cheaper one I got has been fine for over the 6 months since I got it.
Biker Biggles
11-04-05, 02:44 PM
Why did your dealer charge you £180 to find nothing wrong with your bike and start it for you?
quiksilv
11-04-05, 02:47 PM
wow that’s cheap - do you know the make of the battery?
The garage charged me because i had a new filter, oil general service and a new indicator put in, oh and that trusty old labor charge.
fizzwheel
11-04-05, 03:11 PM
Sorry to butt in but had to post. What kinda batteries you gettin? I had to get a new battery and it only cost me £25 from the local bike shop. I know there are batteries for nearly £80 but you don't have to get them. And the cheaper one I got has been fine for over the 6 months since I got it.
Even better idea :thumbsup:
quiksilv
11-04-05, 04:06 PM
just ordered a GS 650 & GS 650 Katana battery online for £21 ex delivery £27 all in. Will let you know if that sorts it.
just ordered a GS 650 & GS 650 Katana battery online for £21 ex delivery £27 all in. Will let you know if that sorts it.
You sure that's the right one?
I had a GS and those batteries are the old style with the overflow. :?
quiksilv
12-04-05, 07:43 AM
oh bu**er - do u know what the battery type should be? i'll try and change the order.
wolverine04uk
12-04-05, 08:06 AM
Soz for the late reply. I dunno the make, but all I gave him was the serial number of the battery and he picked one off the shelf.
quiksilv
12-04-05, 09:17 AM
thanks - will see if the battery fits - if not then i can hopefully send it back and get the right one.
quiksilv
17-05-05, 11:13 AM
The battery is okay from what i can gather but the bike still doesn't start.
Any more ideas?
Had a problem with my bike a few weeks back where the bike would turn over but wouldn't start - so i got a garage to pick it up and fix it - which they did but didn't notice any problem and the bike started. But the problem has started again. The battery is okay - only take 10 mins to charge after running it low trying to start the the bloody thing bike.
Any ideas suggestions as i don't won’t to give the garage another £180.
Many thanks
PS 650s 2002
havent read through all of this thread but it sounds like exactly the same problem i had with the faulty rectifier. It was a bugger. It would start after a while but when I took it to the guys at the bike shop would always start first time... they thought I was mad until it finally did it in front of them. :?
It killed the first battery, then they replaced that and it was fine for a week or so after. Then it died on me just out of Blackwall tunnel. :(
Charging the battery will work but unless the rectifier keeps the charge you'll be constantly having to recharge it and having problems starting it.
Failing that, check your clutch switch is clean and check kill/side stand switches as well.
Lyn
Can you see a spark ?
Remove a spark plug cap and attach a spark plug, rest it against the cylinder - DON'T HOLD IT :shock: - you should be able to see a spark when it turns over (it helps if you do this away from bright sunshine!)
Does the choke work ?
Can you smell petrol after you've been trying to start it ?
If you have to remove a spark plug to check, the rear plug is much easier.
Do you keep the headlights on during the start sequence - it's best not to, but they should not dim too much during several start attempts (I know they switch off while cranking on the pointy bikes)
quiksilv wrote
Won't bloody start , any suggestions ?
Yeah , easy buy a Honda :lol: :lol:
Sid Squid
17-05-05, 06:32 PM
Sounds just like the problem that I had a few weeks ago.....
Engine wants to go but wont spring to life????????
If you look in Tuning Tweaking etc... (help my bike won't start) & (Bike is back - posted today)
My probs were Blocked Carbs and Contaminated fuel!!!!!
My problem was an overnight one !!!! Bike was going the previous evening, but not the following morning!!!!!
Splosh
xxxxx
My thoughts exactly.
quiksilv
31-05-05, 07:40 PM
Can you see a spark ?
Remove a spark plug cap and attach a spark plug, rest it against the cylinder - DON'T HOLD IT :shock: - you should be able to see a spark when it turns over (it helps if you do this away from bright sunshine!)
Does the choke work ?
Can you smell petrol after you've been trying to start it ?
If you have to remove a spark plug to check, the rear plug is much easier.
Do you keep the headlights on during the start sequence - it's best not to, but they should not dim too much during several start attempts (I know they switch off while cranking on the pointy bikes)
Steve -
Lights are off during the start up and i can smell petrol after trying to start it.
Please ignore my ignorance but I’m new to this (Still) but I have a full body kit on the bike and a custom exhaust so where would I get to the spark plugs from. Will I need to take the body kit off?
An interesting thing is that if i try and start the bike and give it some throttle it appears to die but if I don't give it any throttle then it sounds like the bike is turning over. Problem is as soon as I take my hand of the starter switch it dies?
Please help so I don't have to spend £100 on getting someone out to fix it. :D
Cloggsy
31-05-05, 10:19 PM
Do you have breakdown cover :?:
If you have home start, get 'em to come out, if you don't, push your bike a mile down the road & call 'em out ;) :oops:
Don't worry, I've got my coat on... :D
quiksilv
31-05-05, 10:28 PM
i've not renewed it this year - might have to get it then claim later?
SVeeedy Gonzales
01-06-05, 09:08 AM
Mine (K4) wouldn't start on Tuesday... ended up having about 15 tries and in the end left button in and gave the throttle a handful...
That got her going and she's been fine since (touch wood).
quiksilv
01-06-05, 09:17 AM
Mine (K4) wouldn't start on Tuesday... ended up having about 15 tries and in the end left button in and gave the throttle a handful...
That got her going and she's been fine since (touch wood).
sadly i've had about 20 goes and still no joy... :x
SVeeedy Gonzales
01-06-05, 09:30 AM
Hmm - that's my ham-fisted approach to any vehicle that won't start though... hit the ignition, hold it and hit the throttle :oops: maybe more successful on injected vehicles than on carbed ones.
Are you near a hill? I'm thinking of a "bump"-start... anyone know if this is alright on the SV? Used to do it lots on my 125 and once or twice on my old kwak ER5.
Alternatively get the cheapest breakdown cover (where you have to be over 1 mile from home) and attempt to bump start it until you get 1 mile away (helps to be on a hill for this) and then give up and call breakdown people.
Are you near a hill? I'm thinking of a "bump"-start... anyone know if this is alright on the SV? Used to do it lots on my 125 and once or twice on my old kwak ER5.
:lol: reminds me of my cousin trying to bump start his old GS550 down a hoooge hill near me. Wouldn't start on the way down and he had to push it all the way back up :lol:
Anyway, what are the symptoms? does the engine spin up and just not start? does it sound slow? do you have an immobiliser on there? Have you checked all the switches etc, some Suzi's won't fire with the kill switch on but will still turn over (that was v.embarrasing when I did it).
quiksilv
01-06-05, 01:31 PM
Hi Minky, yeah the kill switch is off the bike stand is up and the bike is in netural. Can't figure it out for love nor money. The turn over sounds normal like it would just b4 you start it anytime - the problem is it just doen't catch... any ideas?
PS does sound more heathly with new battery.
SVeeedy Gonzales
01-06-05, 01:39 PM
Have you checked all the switches etc, some Suzi's won't fire with the kill switch on but will still turn over (that was v.embarrasing when I did it).
Me too - within a few days of getting it... knocked the kill switch while putting the cover on, then Monday morning stood in puzzlement for several minutes while it was totally dead, convinced I'd forgotten the startup procedure with the clutch lever, etc.
Odd thing is that I've never knocked the kill switch by accident since then, yet I've made no special effort to avoid doing so. :?
SVeeedy Gonzales
01-06-05, 01:42 PM
Hi Minky, yeah the kill switch is off the bike stand is up and the bike is in netural. Can't figure it out for love nor money. The turn over sounds normal like it would just b4 you start it anytime - the problem is it just doen't catch... any ideas?
PS does sound more heathly with new battery.
And the clutch lever is pulled in when you hit the starter? My K4 has to have the clutch pulled in before it starts, though that may just be the later models?? Side stand can be down so long as clutch is pulled in... though shouldn't even turn over if the clutch is engaged.
quiksilv
01-06-05, 03:18 PM
okay so when all else fails what do you do... give the thing a damn good rattle!! thats what i did, and guess what the damn thing turned over?!
What i did was fully charge the battery, lift the bike stand, check the kill switch, turn off any lights, shake the damn thing and turn it over with NO throttle... and after a few seconds it turned over.
It then died but with some choke it turned over next time and bob's ya uncle its working...
Just been out for a spin - damn i'm rusty... anyone suggest a race day?
Another note - what's best to clean the bike with - the wheels are in a real bad way
thanks for all your help.
SVeeedy Gonzales
02-06-05, 07:50 AM
A guy at work recommended that I always run the bike for a few minutes after washing it to dry out anywhere the water has got into. Sounds like a good plan - does anyone else do this?
swordtail
04-06-05, 07:17 AM
I think car shampoo is fine for cleaning. I ride all winter and this does the trick. Mind you I've only had the SV a couple of months. There's something very sharp underneath it that took a pretty big piece of skin off the back of my thumb and I didn't notice until the sponge went red.
I always run the engine for a few minutes after a wash to dry the engine bits you can't reach with a towel.
Right, I'm off to try my new paddock stand to see if that makes the cleaning any easier!
Hi Minky, yeah the kill switch is off the bike stand is up and the bike is in netural. Can't figure it out for love nor money. The turn over sounds normal like it would just b4 you start it anytime - the problem is it just doen't catch... any ideas?
PS does sound more heathly with new battery.
Do you have the manual on CD? I am pretty sure it offers a wiring diagram which may be usefull, can post it somewhere for you if you like. I'll have a looksie at it tonight and see if it offers any inspiration.
Correct me if I'm wrong but the 2k2 has a mechanical fuel doesn't it?
Does it even sound like it trying to start? The coils are above the engine aren't they? I've had coil breakdown in the past caused by heat from the engine and this would fit your symptoms.
Has it been running badly previous to this problem? Like feeling choked up or fuel starved?
Again I'll stick the manual up somewhere and let you know if it offers any inspiration.
Just to re-cap though:
Check fuses
Check spark
Check coil wiring & condition (do they get hot?)
Check fuel lines for blockages or breaches
I'm sure we can get the beast growling again :D
I can with a fair bit of confidence point out the problems your having! You are either ....
#1 Using too much throttle to start the bike
#2 Leaving the choke on at times (even slightly, but doesnt always do it! As the position of the rear cylinder after the engine stops, makes a slight suction to the vacuum that draws fuel which is exagerated by leaving the choke on(i believe, may well be wrong on that))
#3 Choke sticking
Which leed to fowling of the spark plugs.
So wip em out next time it happens, clean em with a wire brush, reset the gap, dip in petrol and leave to dry in the sun for 20mins. If problem still happens and all the above arent applicable then try replacing the spark plugs! £8 each at halfords!
This will happen at least once to anyone with a carbed bike!
Hope this helps
iprideaux
07-06-05, 11:38 AM
So wip em out next time it happens, clean em with a wire brush, reset the gap, dip in petrol and leave to dry in the sun for 20mins.
That's a new one on me, why dip them in petrol?
Cloggsy
07-06-05, 01:08 PM
So wip em out next time it happens, clean em with a wire brush, reset the gap, dip in petrol and leave to dry in the sun for 20mins.
That's a new one on me, why dip them in petrol?
De-greasing them :?: :?
helps degrease them & rinse off the carbon uve just loosened with the wire brush,
and any other moisture on them evaporates with the petrol!
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